The Annual Gathering
The highlight of the ‘Morgan Year’ for most of us – that is, those who are not organising it – is the annual meeting or ‘MOG’ (for Morgans Owners Gathering). The earliest record I have found of such an event was a proposed celebration of ‘50 years of Morgans’, to be organised by the Montagu Motor Museum on Sunday 31st July 1960, but the Club committee was not entirely happy with the date so further discussion was needed. A meeting did, however, take place and has done so every year since 1976.
1970
This saw the first big club gathering, although the event was in fact the 25th meeting of The Bugatti Owners Club and Ferrari Owners Club. The Morgan 4/4 Club and Morgan Three Wheelers Club were co-promoters. It was to celebrate ‘60 years of Morgans’. The main venue was Prescott on the weekend of 6th–7th June. I remember that it was gloriously hot weather, with a turnout of over 300 Morgans. Most of us had never seen so many in one place.
1976
1976 saw the first national event proper. This was to celebrate 40 years of four-wheelers and the club’s 25th anniversary. It was held over two weekends: 29th–30th May at Harewood Hill Climb, including a concours and cavalcade, and 14th–15th August at Shelsley Walsh, with a race meeting, another concours and a barbecue.
MOG 77
In 1977 the gathering at Ragley Hall was the first event to be called ‘MOG’. This was a one-day event on Sunday 8th May and contained all the usual attractions we expect to see. There has been a big club event every year since.
MOG 78
This was a return to Ragley Hall for two days, 20th–21st May.
MOG 79
This was held at Knebworth Park on 19th–20th May, with a test day at Silverstone on the 14th.
MORGAN 1980
“The Morgan Clubs joint committee to celebrate 70 years of the Morgan” was held from 4th to 7th July at Beaulieu and Goodwood. This was the first event to be run jointly between the 3- and four-wheeler Clubs. I can remember working my socks off at Goodwood, and the heavens opened at Beaulieu.
MOG 81
Was at Elvaston Castle Country Park on 6th–7th June.
MOG 82
Held at Walton Hall on 10th–11th July.
MOG 83
Walton Hall again, on 16th–17th July.
MOG 84
A bit of a change this time, as it was organised by the Factory. Billed as the ‘Morgan 75th Anniversary’ (their maths is obviously better than ours!), it ran from 21st to 30th July. The week also included some club-organised events, a Curborough Sprint and a Silverstone Test Day. There was a Sports Day at Prescott and concours plus spares fair at Eastnor Castle.
MOG 85
Held at Haycock Hotel, Wansford from 29th June to 1st July.
MOG 86
50 years of four-wheelers at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern, from 11th to 15th July.
MOG 87
Held over the weekend of 26th–28th June, just a bit north of Watford Gap at Beamish.
MOG 88
At The Cotswold Wildlife Park, held on 17th–19th June.
MOG 89
Back up north beyond Watford Gap again, and for the first time way over the border to Carbridge in Scotland, from 23rd to 25th June.
MOG 90
Back south at The Whitbread Hop Farm in Kent on 22nd–25th June.
MOG 91
29th June to 9th July, back to the Three Counties Showground. It was another celebration year, 40 years of the club and 40 years of the Plus Four.
MOG 92
Over the border again, this time to Wales and Margam County Park, 19th–21st June, for "Eisteddfod y Morgan", which means a ‘Gathering of Morgans’.
MOG 93
“Morgans in Staffordshire” at Weston Park, 2nd to 4th July.
MOG 94
A four day event organised by the Yorkshire Centre and held over 21st to 24th July 1994. A host of hotels were available in York and camping was provided on the Knavesmire, adjacent to the event site.
Thursday 21st: The event started with a 'Welcome Noggin for the early arrivals at the Rose & Crown in the pretty village of Askam Richard just west of York.
Friday 22nd: The evening event was held at the National Railway Museum.
Saturday 23rd: A choice of scenic runs through the beautiful Yorkshire Dales and Moors; followed by a formal dinner (or a seperate Disco) at the York Racecourse Banqueting Suite.
Sunday 24th: The main event held on the Knavesmire (York Racecourse); a huge car park for the near 1000 Morgans attending, with the usual Concours, Autotest and Pit Stop Challenge plus many other attractions.
Sunday 24th (evening): A 'Cruise on the Ouse' using three large boats provided the closing event.
MOG 95
Return to Beaulieu, 21st–25th June. This time glorious weather and a super event which included The Morgan Experience, a whole new concept that was a three-day all-in package precursor to the main event.
MOG 96
Up to the Midlands and Himley Hall near Dudley, 18th–22nd July. This was a co-operative event organised by three Centres – Midland, Warwickshire and Staffordshire – in a very short time.
MOG 97
Was held in Bath with a Roman flavour, many wearing togas and with plenty of earwigs on the campsite. The Saturday was very wet but the Sunday was a gloriously sunny day.
MOG 98
A change, two events in one year. The first, in May, was MANX-MOG – for the first time, the national event is held off the mainland on The Isle of Man. 250 cars, small by event standards but a great success. On the Saturday afternoon the road from Ramsey to the mountain was closed and we were let loose, it was magic. The second was HAL-MOG in Little Hallingbury. Who could forget the superb display celebrating 30 years of Plus Eights and Stansted Airport.
MOG 99
A return to Scotland after ten years, this time to Bridge of Allan, near Stirling. Legendary Scottish hospitality ending with a superb meal in Stirling Castle.
MOG 2000
Another ten-year return, to the ‘Garden of England’, Kent at Canterbury University Campus. The Club began the new Millennium with a meeting that included a race meeting at Lydden Hill and a lunch in Le Touquet. It was also the first MOG for the Aero 8.
MOG 2001
A golden jubilee meeting at Cheltenham Racecourse, including all the usual features plus a 50th birthday card and celebration for the whole club.
MOG 2002
A meeting based around the Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon, with a two-day grass autotest and an “Oxford Experience” which included, for each night, a dinner and B&B at St. Edmund Hall, one of the oldest of the Oxford colleges.
MOG 2003
The Great North MOG 003 was based at Newcastle Racecourse with trips along the Tyne, a track day at Croft and all the usual MOG features – gymkhana, concours, scenic runs etc.
MOG 2004
On the Welsh borders, DevaMog held the event at Oswestry, with canal trips and splendid scenic drives, proving that a small centre can organise a great event.
MOG 2005
When the idea of another event on the Isle of Man, as part of the centenary of racing on the island, fell through, the 2002 team stepped into the breach. A return to Gaydon, this was originally going to be a one-day event but expanded to a full and successful MOG.
MOG 2006
This was another year when the event should have been on the Isle of Man, but circumstances meant a last-minute change of plan. Volunteers from a number of centres came forward and, with the cooperation of Mallory Park, a very successful event took place over the last weekend of July.
MOG 2007
Held at the Goodwood Circuit over the weekend of 10th–12th August, this was ably organised by the Brighton Centre. It proved very popular with the chance for members to drive on one of the world's great tracks – an opportunity that many grasped with both hands!
MOG 2008
Cornwall hosted this year's MOG. It was based at the Trevelgue Holiday Park, Newquay and held over the weekend of 13th–15th June. The weather was fabulous and the event was a huge success. Many stayed on after the event to take advantage of the scenery and facilities available in Cornwall.
MOG 2009
Centenary Year for The Morgan Motor Company Limited, so the Club did not hold a MOG. Instead, MMC arranged a series of celebrations during the year, with the main event being at Cheltenham over the weekend of 1st–2nd August.
MOG 2010
Another quickly organised event in lieu of a cancelled meet in Scotland. We took the waters at Buxton with a successful low-key event around the Palace Hotel in Buxton on 18th–20th June. With activities taking place there and in and around the town, it proved a great success for members, visitors and inhabitants alike.
MOG 2011
Was held in Newmarket, Suffolk at the Rowley Mile Racecourse on 1st–3rd July. More than 700 cars were in attendance on the Sunday and the weather was, fortunately, kind. The venue proved to be an excellent choice and the event was much enjoyed.
MOG 2012
Not a MOG as such but an expansion of The Gaydon Auto Solo and called Morgan Activities Weekend.
MOG 2013
A return to HopMog-land, Canterbury and the University of Kent, ending with a trip to France.
MOG 2014
Move up north to the spa town of Harrogate for some Yorkshire hospitality.
MOG 2015
Morgan owners came to Llangollen, North Wales with all sorts of expectations, and even the weather behaved itself. Whichever centre you are connected with, the one common factor is that you like to compete in one way or another. Events held included
Gymkhana, Pit Stop Challenge, Fun in the Pits, Auto Duo, Innovations, Pride of Ownership and a Raffle. There were plenty of stalls, good food and lots of fun.
We were so lucky to have been able to hold a MOG in such beautiful surroundings, but perhaps the real winners, resulting from your generosity over the weekend, were the two charities we supported – Hope House Hospice for Children and Brain Tumour Research.
MOG 2016
Our vision for MOG 16 was for an event that could be staged in and around one venue, which had ample opportunity for scenic drives as well as visits to places of interest. For the Sunday, in addition to the usual trade stands, we set out to provide a fun and friendly atmosphere with plenty of opportunity to socialise in very pleasant surroundings. We also wanted to offer members a chance to take part in events that did not require any advance booking.
Horwood House, Milton Keynes proved to be an excellent venue, with the surrounding countryside providing good opportunities for scenic runs and interesting places to visit, with Bletchley Park of course being the most popular. In addition to the main MOG events, 123 members went cruising on the Grand Union Canal, 93 went on a steam train, 60 had afternoon tea at Woburn and over 300 visited the codebreakers at Bletchley Park
The CranMog team worked hard to deliver the event, with over 100 members, in addition to the MOG 16 committee, being involved throughout the weekend. SwanMog assisted by organising the Gymkhana and AngleMog provided a team to run the Auto Duo.
MOG 2017
A special event organised by the Morgan Motor Company and held at the Three Counties Showground near Malvern. 1500 Morgans attended with all sorts of attractions including autosolo, gymkhana, demo runs, concours, an aerobatic display and a large Historic Register gathering. The Saturday evening offered a gala dinner and the Sunday night had a spectacular Proms concert.
MOG 2018
A lighter event was held at Heythrop Park hotel near Enstone on the Friday and Saturday before the Roadster 100 Register’s All Morgans Day at Blenheim Palace. The weekend was scorchingly hot and saw concours and innovations competitions at Heythrop Park, plus scenic runs and evening dinners.
MOG 2019
“Victory-Mog” was organised by the FolkMog Centre and based at Dunston Hall Hotel, just outside Norwich. A Friday evening barbecue started off the weekend. On the Saturday, at RAF Coltishall, north of Norwich, the Autosolo and gymkhana took place on the old runway. In the evening there was a gala dinner. The Sunday had trade stands and vintage singers at the hotel, plus a prizegiving with presentations by Charles Morgan. Off-site attractions included a visit to Classic Team Lotus, boat trips on the Norfolk Broads, steam railways, stately home visits and much more.
Mogfest '20
The planned event at Walton Hall Hotel and the British Motor Museum was delayed until 2021 due to Covid-19.
Mogfest ’21 Warwickshire
After two years of preparation and cancellations due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the
delayed event finally took place between 9th and 11 th July, albeit still under some
extended UK government regulations. This was the first event under the Mogfest
branding introduced to mark the change to a centrally organised event. In the
absence of centres coming forward this had been agreed as the best way to secure
some continuity for a sustainable national gathering.
Following a Welcome BBQ on Friday evening at the base hotel, Walton Hall near
Wellesbourne, the nearby British Motor Museum at Gaydon was the venue for
Saturday’s programme. This included Concours and Autosolo and new Morgan
Experience Drives, courtesy of Morgan Motor Company. The Annual Dinner in the
evening - with a 50s theme - also celebrated the 70th anniversary of the club.
On Sunday a Car of the Decade line up in the hotel parkland, with one car for each
decade of the club, and The Shipston Town Band provided interest and musical
accompaniment for a lunchtime picnic. In the afternoon a Drive-in Cinema, in
compliance with regulations, featured the film Bohemian Rhapsody which had been
chosen by members through an online ballot.
Everyone attending welcomed the opportunity of getting out and about again and meeting up with old and new friends.
Mogfest '22 Durham
The second Mogfest took place in County Durham over a mainly sunny weekend at
the end of June. Members arrived at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Durham on Friday for
a welcome reception and Buffet Dinner in the hotel’s riverside restaurant. Early
arrivals also had the opportunity to join a guided tour of the historic Durham Cathedral
located on a peninsula above the River Wear.
On Saturday a steady stream of Morgans converged on the Beamish open-air
museum where the special Mogfest site featured the club’s Concours competition
and Historic Register display along with entertainment. The club gazebo provided the
location for the launch of The March of Progress book by Miscellany Editor Charles
Neal. Members were able to travel back in time by tram and vintage bus to explore
the 350-acre museum site. In the evening the Annual Dinner featured guest speaker
Perry McCarthy, the original STIG from BBC TV’s Top Gear programme.
The weekend finished with two interesting options on Sunday – a walk through
historic Durham with a Blue Badge Guide or a visit to the unique Bowes Museum at Barnard Castle and a guided tour of the international fine art collection.
Mogfest ’23 Brooklands
The much-awaited event took place at Old Windsor and Brooklands at the beginning of July. The weekend began with a cruise on the River Thames on Friday evening, departing from Runnymede close to the De Vere Beaumont Estate hotel , the event’s hotel base.
On Saturday the action transferred to the Brooklands Museum site – the birthplace of British motorsport. In addition to the wide range of motoring and aviation exhibits across the museum a full range of activities enjoyed by members included Autosolo and Concours competitions, Trade stands, Register displays, Morgan Experience Drives, courtesy of Morgan Motor Company and runs up the historic Test Hill.
In the evening the Annual Dinner was held back at the Old Windsor hotel with guest speaker Simon Evans, familiar from BBC Radio Four, Tour and festival appearances.
The weekend programme concluded with a Scenic Drive to Nuffield Place near Henley-on-Thames, the art deco home of Lord Nuffield – founder of Morris Motor Company and one of the most prolific philanthropists of the 20th century.
Mogfest ’24 Shropshire
The event took place at venues across Shropshire between 26th and 28th July.
The weekend started on Friday evening with a Welcome BBQ at the Museum of Iron, Coalbrookdale just a short drive from the event’s base - Telford Hotel and Golf Resort. A performance by local community Choir the Darby Singers rounded off the evening.
Weston Park was the location for Saturday’s activities including Concours, Gymkhana, Trade stands, Spares/Craft fair, House Tours and a series of fun and games plus musical entertainment by Cleobury Mortimer Concert Brass. In the evening the Annual Dinner at the Telford hotel featured entertainment with Abba tribute band Bjorn UK.
The weekend concluded on Sunday with the opportunity to travel in a reserved carriage on the Severn Valley Railway.
Mogfest '25 Beaulieu
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